SANTA CRUZ - Cloaked within a redwood grove on the north side of the UC Santa Cruz campus is a place that many students do not even know exists, but for others is the unique, picturesque and serene community where they bought their first home before they turned 21 - the Camper Park.

The students who live in the 42-space park choose to live here because they identify with the social environment and tight-knit, communal living. The residents sip morning tea together, help each other out with chores and maintenance, teach each other how to play instruments and other skills, and, in general, seem to be on the same wavelength.

Just before noon Friday The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" seeped through the walls of the first camper on the circular road. The very next camper in the line was actually painted egg-yolk yellow and had the words "We all live in a yellow submarine" written on the side.

"I heard stories about this place from friends," said Nate Kandus, a former UCSC student who lived in the park from 2007 to 2010 and was back visiting. "When I came up here I saw that it was purely magical. It's an inspired, intentional community that allows for self exploration and growth for all its residents."

A stroll through the park reveals gardens, sculptures, piles of bike tires and colorfully decorated and painted campers in every shape and size, many of them with names on the exterior such as "The Glory Wagon" and "Creamcicle."

COMMUNITY HUB

In the center of the park is a community area with laundry facilities, a kitchen, restrooms and showers. Every Wednesday and Sunday the residents hold a potluck dinner open to all comers. The residents call themselves "parkies," and hold a "Trailer Park Olympics" every year, using unconventional competitions as an ice breaker.

"The park is a really strong community," said resident Caileen Brandt, 21, whose remark was echoed with a "Hell yea," from fellow park resident Will Lee.

"It's like a co-op more than a dorm," Brandt said. "It is mostly student run, and we are responsible for our own community. We keep it clean and make sure we are responsible campus neighbors. If someone is causing problems, we will solve it as a community, but we may have to expedite them off the island."

The students also must be more self-reliant then they are in the dorms.

"I would guess this is first home-owning opportunity for the students, and it's a great experience for students to learn about the upkeep on a home," said Jim Grove, assistant director of housing services and facilities.

The trailers themselves are owned by the students, and most go for between $3,000 and $3,500 depending on their condition and included amenities such as bathrooms. Departing students sell their trailer to someone on the waiting list, typically for a few hundred dollars less than what they paid.

Rent for the spaces is $500 a month, or $556 a month for those who need a sewer connection. The cheapest dorm rooms on campus cost about $800 per month after the included meal plan is subtracted.

HIDDEN GEM

There is a waiting list to get into the camper park that typically has between 30 and 80 names on it depending on the time of year.

"It is very popular among the portion of the student body who likes living in an alternative arrangement like that," said Grove. "A lot of students, especially those new to campus, have no idea it's there. It really is a hidden gem."

The park residents also excel academically in comparison with the general population.

"The students in the Camper Park have better than average graduation rates," Grove said.

The park was first put in place during the early 1980s when there was a housing shortage on campus and, according to current residents, some students were already parking RVs and trailers in campus parking lots to avoid pricier dorms or off-campus housing.

"You can't always predict the size of incoming classes," Grove said. "The park was built when supply was short and it was designated as an alternative living community. This is the last of its kind to my understanding. There were camper parks elsewhere but those have ended. I'm not quite sure why."

There is some fear among residents that future campus growth will lead to bulldozers coming through the camper park some day. The school's long range development plan does not mention the camper park explicitly, but the general area where the park is located, north of Kresge College and west of Heller Drive, is slated for a future college and student housing.

"It's certainly a possibility, but I can't imagine it happening anytime soon," Grove said, pointing out there are no current plans for development and the downturn in the economy has slowed large projects.